African National Congress deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe doesn't speak the Jacob Zuma camp lingo.

I have never heard Motlanthe calling people names or hurling insults at our judges and media.

Does he really belong to the Zuma group or is he there by mistake? If I didn't know better I would say he's with the Thabo Mbeki clique.

Motlanthe is very diplomatic, calm and sober-minded. He thinks before he opens his mouth. But, most importantly, he is honest and consistent.

If I had my way I would make him the presidential candidate next year. I just hope that he will be part of the cabinet after next year's elections.

Thus far Motlanthe is the only one from the new ANC leadership who has offered principled leadership when we needed it the most.

He has risked being unpopular with the so-called kingmakers and had the courage to publicly rebuke Julius Malema for his "kill for Zuma" statement.

Motlanthe has also reassured the nation that the ruling party respects the independence of the judiciary. He said the statements made against the judges were probably made out of ignorance.

The Zuma camp is full of populists who are competing to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

ANCYL president Malema, Cosatu's Zwelinzima Vavi and the SACP's Blade Nzimande lead the pack.

Thabile Mange, Johannesburg